Understanding the Chinese Preposition "由"

The Chinese preposition "由" (yóu) is commonly used to indicate the starting point or origin of an action or movement. It can be translated as "from" or "by" in English, depending on the context.

In the sentence "这路公交车由北京机场出发" (Zhè lù gōngjiāo chē yóu Běijīng jīchǎng chūfā), "由" indicates that the bus departs from Beijing Airport. Here, "由" establishes the origin of the bus's journey.

Similarly, in "我们由南门进入公园" (Wǒmen yóu nánmén jìnrù gōngyuán), "由" signifies that we enter the park through the South Gate. In this case, it highlights the specific entry point for the action of entering.

Overall, "由" is essential for expressing the starting point of actions or movements in Chinese, making it a key preposition for learners to master.